Naruto: Clash of Ninja Interview

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Eighting speaks out on Naruto, GameCube, and beyond...

By Matt Casamassina

Though the series has been going strong for quite some time in Japan, Naruto is just beginning to gain speed here in America. The TV show can now be found on Cartoon Network, and English versions of Shonen Jump's latest manga classic can be found in both Boarders and Barnes and Noble nationwide. Since we are getting a late start on the Naruto franchise here in America (four Clash of Ninja titles are already avaiable in Japan), D3 Publisher and the Tommy Corporation are bringing the first of the series to U.S. shelves next month. Aside from allowing us to go hands on with the game, IGN has been given a chance to interview Mr. Masato Toyoshima, one of the main executives for the development team "Eighting," on the soon-to-be released Naruto: Clash of Ninja.

IGN: Eighting is no stranger to fighting games, having developed both Bloody Roar and Zatch Bell. How is Naruto different from these other fighting games?

Toyoshima: Compared to these other 2 games, knowing the Naruto fans, we designed the control scheme to have enough depth to appeal to both casual and hard core gamers.

IGN: Naruto: Clash of Ninja has been available in Japan for a long time. Are there any differences with the US / English version?

Toyoshima: The voice-overs, they were done by the voice actors from the US TV show.

IGN: What is the storyline of the game? What is the main goal?

Toyoshima: The story mode recreates the story arc from the TV show that centers around Zabuza. By completing the story mode you can unlock additional characters to use in the vs. mode. This is the main feature of the game so we hope everyone will enjoy the battles for a long time.

IGN: How many playable characters are in the title and how do the character types differ?

Toyoshima: There are 7 characters from the beginning and 3 additional characters to unlock. Each character comes with their own attacks and moves.

IGN: How many arenas can gamers fight in & what are some of the different background styles?

Toyoshima: The arenas are all based on the original manga and TV show, there are 7 stages; -Academy-Rooftop -Academy-Schoolyard -Ichiraku Ramen Shop -Village Hidden in the Leaves-Gate -The Forest of Death -The Great Naruto Bridge-Stage 1 & 2

And one game original stage (Amid Toads).

IGN: Is the GameCube controller an ideal fighting pad? Why or why not?

Toyoshima: Well that all depends on the player's tastes and preferences. For us, the GCN controller works well because all the buttons are central, so it's easy to handle.

IGN: Does Naruto: Clash of Ninja feature any unlockables?

Toyoshima: The game includes 3 unlockable characters, one of them is Rock Lee, who you unlock by completing the story mode, but we're going to let your readers discover the other 2 for themselves!

IGN: What graphic / visual-based accomplishments are you most proud of with the game and why?

Toyoshima: The biggest challenge for us was doing justice to the characters and scenes from the original manga and TV show. The artwork in the game has been received well by the majority of people so we're proud that we were able to accomplish what we set out to do.

IGN: Do combos play a major part in Naruto: Clash of Ninja? Please describe how this works.

Toyoshima: With the control scheme we developed, the combos are relatively easy to unleash, but timing is the key. Each character has their own weaknesses as well as strengths and when attacking, it's important to take advantage of this and time the use of combos effectively.

IGN: How many people can battle at once in Naruto: Clash of Ninja?

Toyoshima: Up to 2 players.

IGN: Two (or three!) additional Naruto games have since been developed. What are the differences with these games and the original?

Toyoshima: There are 4 titles available in the Clash of Ninja series. In Part 2, 4 players can fight at the same time. In Part 3, 3 characters can combine to use a special combination jutsu. In Part 4, players can enjoy Three-Man Squad fighting.

IGN: Are there any plans to continue the Bloody Roar franchise on next generation consoles? Please elaborate.

Toyoshima: This is one of our signature titles, however the plans for the next generation consoles are not fixed yet.

IGN: What do you think of Nintendo's Revolution console? Please be detailed in your response. What are your thoughts on the controller? How might a fighter like Naruto be handled with the controller?

Toyoshima: With the capabilities of the new hardware, we believe that the Revolution will enable us to expand our creativity through it's unique interface. With regards to using the new controller for fighting games, we're excited to be able to explore new options and ideas that will create new experiences for gamers.

IGN: Are you working on any projects for Nintendo Revolution?

Toyoshima: We would like to decline to comment on the Nintendo Revolution at this time.